When HCMC students become soldiers and artists during class

(Dan Tri) - Instead of lessons being limited to books, many schools in Ho Chi Minh City have boldly innovated by integrating interdisciplinary subjects, turning students' study and practice hours into lively projects.

Students not only learn knowledge but also transform, experience and create meaningful educational products themselves, thereby nurturing love for history and national culture in the most natural and profound way.

“The battlefield without smoke and fire” - a lesson about patriotism for the young generation

At Le Quy Don High School, the interdisciplinary learning project "Smokeless Battlefield" has just concluded after 4 weeks of implementation, leaving deep impressions in the hearts of more than 1,450 students.

Combining knowledge from literature, history, physical education and national defense and security education, the project led students on a special journey to learn and express the story of love for the Fatherland in the language of young people.

Instead of guns and bullets like their fathers and grandfathers, the "weapons" of the new generation of "soldiers" are books, pens and unlimited creativity. With interdisciplinary knowledge, they have worked together to carry out many tasks such as making propaganda posters, editing documentary films, launching magazines, choreographing dances and plays and composing songs.

Students also reenacted a solemn parade, playing the roles of representatives of the Vietnamese people's armed forces such as the liberation army, navy soldiers, female guerrillas from the South, female guerrillas from the North... bringing emotion and pride to all teachers and students of the school.

Students of Le Quy Don High School reenact a solemn parade (Photo: Huyen Nguyen).

Each product is a unique "war diary" page, recording the perspective of today's generation on national history.

In particular, the biggest highlight of the project is the 2-day-1-night practical experience program called "Following the March" at Gia Dinh Regiment.

Living in a military environment for the first time, Ha Nguyen Minh Khue, a student of class 11A12, was trained like a real soldier.

“The iron discipline, steadfast will and sacred camaraderie of Uncle Ho's soldiers are what we feel and appreciate most deeply,” Minh Khue said emotionally.

Students experience military life at Gia Dinh Regiment (Photo: Provided by the Organizing Committee).

Taking on the position of project design manager, Minh Khue also received many lessons about teamwork.

“Through this project, we have seen how great the power of the collective is. Together, we have completed a meaningful project and received extremely profound lessons,” the female student expressed.

Ms. Bui Minh Tam, Principal of Le Quy Don High School, shared: “The project not only trains the spirit of discipline and the will to overcome difficulties, but also ignites national pride in each student. Through that, the students feel the value of peace , independence and are more aware of their responsibility to the Fatherland today.”

Project products made by students were displayed at the closing ceremony (Photo: Huyen Nguyen).

Agreeing with the significance of the program, Lieutenant Pham Huu Dat, Deputy Political Commissar , Infantry Company 7, Infantry Battalion 2, Gia Dinh Regiment, commented: “The program has contributed to effectively educating the tradition of patriotism. The education sector needs to replicate models like this so that students can better understand reality and have more historical knowledge.”

Bringing cultural heritage into the classroom

Not only does it revive the glorious history, the interdisciplinary teaching method also brings intangible cultural heritage closer to the city's students. The local education lesson of Hai Ba Trung Secondary and High School students took place not in the classroom, but at the C30 Hoa Binh stage.

The school coordinated with the Center for Conservation and Development of Southern Amateur Music to organize the topic "Learning about the intangible culture of Cai Luong - Southern Amateur Music" through the play "Quy Mau Si Nhi".

This is an integration of knowledge from three subjects: literature, local education and career guidance experience activities.

A class without a podium for students of Hai Ba Trung Secondary and High School (Photo: Huyen Nguyen).

With the participation of Meritorious Artist Tu Suong, artists, teachers and students, the play about sacred motherly love helped children understand more deeply about the art of Cai Luong and Don Ca Tai Tu - a heritage recognized by UNESCO.

Students not only learn literature from books but also "live in literature", feel and love more the cultural heritage of the nation.

According to teacher Vu Thi Thu Trang, a teacher at Hai Ba Trung Secondary and High School, the 2018 General Education program has brought about many positive changes, especially in the comprehensive development of learners' abilities and qualities.

“Literature is no longer confined to books but has expanded into real life. This subject has given students the opportunity to approach the subject in a positive, intuitive and lively way,” Ms. Trang shared.

Students attentively watched and recorded video of the play (Photo: Huyen Nguyen).

Mr. Hoang Minh Huy, Principal of Hai Ba Trung Secondary and High School, said that this is not a single activity. Over the past three years, the school has continuously organized interdisciplinary extracurricular programs on Southern folk performances, traditional festivals, etc.

"Such programs stimulate imagination, creativity and help children become more connected to the culture in which they live," the principal affirmed.

Ms. Vu Hai Song Quyen, a literature teacher at Marie Curie High School, agrees. According to Ms. Quyen, through each practical experience lesson, the knowledge in textbooks has never been so closely connected to life.

"Especially in the Southern land, where Cai Luong - Don Ca Tai Tu is still a unique cultural element that we are extremely proud of," Ms. Quyen emphasized.

Mr. Tran Van Cuong, an officer of the General Education Department, Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City, commented that the interdisciplinary integration and dramatization is an effective organizational model, showing great efforts and deep concern of the school's board of directors in bringing students the best experiences.

"Integrating subjects has raised the level of the lesson, helping students feel the content deeply without any better method," said Mr. Cuong.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/giao-duc/khi-hoc-sinh-tphcm-tro-thanh-nguoi-linh-nghe-si-trong-gio-hoc-20251010165847909.htm